dozeyblonde
"I'm really over the moon! The dermatologist called to say that he managed to remove my basal cell carcinoma completely, although it was quite deep into the muscle. He invited me to call anytime I needed help or advice and not bother with the GP as a go between! Hurray. I can't tell you how pleased I am!!!"
"I joined an Efudix/Efudex FB group. Some of it's very positive and some is very disturbing. I've now come across two people who have suffered permanent skin damage with this cream. Is anyone on this site aware of others suffering like this? "
"Question for all you Efudix veterans out there...in the healing phase now...lots of crusting skin in areas i didn't expect,,,slowly sloughing off with a good cream...Five days into healing and my forehead is full of dots which was my initial concern. These bits aren't cracking, or blistering just lots of 5 pence sized dots. Does that mean they are not fully "cooked" despite finishing my course? If i can work out how to get pictures off my phone i will post tem. In the meantime has anyone had to redo an area that reacted but then didn't really clear properly? Sorry for the ramble but the derm gave me the cream and said you won't need to see me again and discharged me"
Hi Dizzy.
Your marks sound exactly like mine. I had about 7 or 8 under the skin blemishes that had been brought out by the application of Efudex. They never became red sores, just small bruise like marks. I asked my dermatologist when she discharged me but she just shrugged it off. She did use her dermatoscope to have a look but said she could not see anything so not to worry.
OK, I do not think they really know. If it is not an above surface sore, they have no idea what it is. I did some checking. Their dermatoscopes only magnify around 15 times at best. I purchased an expensive USB scope so that I could use my 4K computer monitor to look at my marks. The scope I purchased can magnify up to 1000 times. It scared the hell out of me. I could even see the blood flowing through vessels under the skin (I never realised that our skin is so ugly). The bruised areas just looked like normal skin but darker in colour.
We give our dermatologists and doctors a lot of credit for knowing what they are doing but until they look at the biopsies under a very powerful microscope, even they do not know what is wrong with us. Some BCC's and SCC's are obvious so they can easily identify them but beyond that it needs laboratory tests. I have read that even Mohs surgery is not as accurate in identifying cancerous cells as in a laboratory, it just removes less skin and tissue and makes more money for the surgeon.
Don't worry about your marks, mine are gradually fading (around 4 months since treatment). I just accept that I have skin cancer, it will not go away and I will get reoccurrences so I get on with my life and accept that it is just the way it is.
Thanks Tony B for such a comprehensive reply...4 months aarrgghh...and yes I know the difference between God and a Doctor, God doesn't think he's a Doctor 😀 Seriously though, I am finding this whole journey scarier than I thought I would. Had last week and this week off work (1st sick days in 4 years) and not looking forward to it but if anyone asks I'll be sure to tell them why I look like I do. That's the most positive message I can give..be sun aware x
I had to do my face last year and all but one little spot had a reaction. It was a small, pearly white bump on my nose, in the same area where I had had Invasive Morpheaform cancer 7 years previous, with MOHS (over 100 stitches total) and a check flap for reconstruction. It was the same cancer, returned, in the same area, which is not common after a MOHS procedure. So I had a second MOHS with a double nose flap (they were able to save all of my nose but it is very tight across the bridge), and now it has returned again, but on my temple. I will be having another MOHS procedure on my face very soon. f you are ever unhappy with the answers you receive from your dermatologist, I urge you to seek out a new one. Best of luck to you!
thanks Gammy, you sound like you've been through ss
o much. Sorry for the late reply, the notification went into junk mail...mmm.
"Has anyone suffered with mouth ulcers and gum soreness using Efudex? "